Eddie Aldrete’s little piece of Hernandez vs. Texas history

The PBS documentary “A Class Apart,” which airs at 9 p.m. Monday on KLRN, is a must-see. Its focus on the historic Supreme Court case Hernandez vs. Texas, which fought jury discrimination in South Texas, has many San Antonio connections.

The lawyers who argued the case in 1954, Gus Garcia and Carlos Cadena, were San Antonians. Other Alamo City attorneys were involved, including Chris Aldrete, whose son Eddie Aldrete is a notable San Antonian in his own right.

“A Class Apart” has unearthed many smaller pieces of history beyond the horrific stories of discrimination against Mexican Americans at that time.

Eddie Aldrete owns his own bit of history — a letter written by his father from the nation’s capital after the case was argued. The letter was addressed to Oralia Vera, Aldrete’s mother, and written on Mayflower Hotel stationary, postmarked Jan. 12, 1954.

Here’s what it said, with minor editing:

“My dear Oralia,

“There is snow all over Washington and that stops my trip or shortens my stay. I’ve developed a lousy cold.

“Yesterday, we finally believe, was the first time Mexican-American attorneys from Texas appear before the Supreme Court. Carlos Cadena, law professor at St. Mary’s in San Antonio, did a beautiful presentation of the argument….

“The court was very much impressed with Cadena! Justice Frankfurter was our man..Tex Justice Clark was against us, and Cadena gave him a lecture in law!

“Met Al Wirin, famous constitutional lawyer from Los Angeles…

“Will have lunch at 1 p.m. with old Army friend now practicing here. At 2:30 will visit Assistant Commissioner of Immigration W. F. Kelly…Will call on some members of Congress tomorrow.

“Best regards,

“Chris”

I’ve written a story about the documentary for Sunday’s S.A. Life. Before then, read my previous blogs about the film here, and here.